Apparatus for detecting suspended matter in fluids



NOV. 24, 1953 I i A, w, UHL Y 2,660,052

APPARATUS FOR DETECTING SUSPENDED MATTER IN FLUIDS Filed May 18, 1950 2 Sheets-:Sheet l un@ Q @rlA ATT RNEY Nov. 24, 1953 A, W, UHL 2,660,052

APPARATUS FOR DETECTING SUSPENDED MATTER IN FLUIDS Filed May 18, 1950 2 Shee'bS---SheetI 2 ATT RNEY Patented Nov. 24, i953 UNITED STATES APPARATUS Fort DETECTING'SUSPENDEU p MATTER 1N FLU1Ds.;- Arthur vv. Um,-` Iilwo'oa, N.' Y; assignorw ses; cialtes` Development Co'ltporaticm,v Belleville; N J a Ycorporation -vof l New1 J ers'ey? Application May.1s,l1950, saisine-1.621543 s-'olimsz- (on 7322er rihe present invention relates to apparatusfo'rvv detecting the presence and origin of 'suspended matter in fluids, such as smoke in air; and,v more particularly, relates to improvements over apfparatus of the type disclosed in Letters Patent'of'v the United States No. 2,634,281.

As disclosed. in the aforementionedpatert, it has been found desirable to successively samplethe. atmosphere kof a plurality of spaces, vsuch as' cargorholds, `storage vaults or the likecin which. 10 remay occur, to detect thepresenceofsmoke and to give an indication of the originv of the` smoke vin response to the detection thereof.' OneV of` the difficulties heretofore encountered with such apparatus has been that the sampling. means, the smoke responsive means andthe. indicating means have failedtocooperateto properlypindieate in which space thesinoke originated. This diiculty has been due primarily tothe fact' that, by the time a sample from a given spacevvas directed tothe responsive means yand anindieationicould be given in response to smoke therein, the sampling and indicating rneansof` the ap'- paratus were advanced to a succeeding. position associated with another space, whereby', iismoke was detected in the sample from' thegivenspace; it was falsely indicatedthatthe'smoke originated" in the other space; Y Y

Such Vfalse indication'has lcausedl confusion and oftenhas resulted in' discharging re'extinguishing medium into a space other than that-in which the smoke had originated. In order to avertA such confusion, it'has been customaryzto recheck'tliefA spaces to denitely ascertain iii/Which space thef smoke: originated lbeiore discharging` the iireex;- tin'guishing medium. Consequently, Whengsmoke: was detectedxwhich indicated the commencementu ofv a re, valuable vtime Was vlostinY eiecting ther extinguishment of such re.-

Accordingly, an object of the present invention isytoovercomepthe foregoing diiiicultiesfand disadvantages;

Another object is, to provide apparatus 'ofvvthez foregoing; character :which gives Va true indication asito vthe origin'of the smoke in; every instance.

Another object is to provide sucheapparatusl which is relatively' simple: and economical in .conL struction'and is reliable in operation.

A further object is to provide apparatus Wherein the operation of the sampling, responsiveand indicating means, is` coordinated .to accomplish, the foregoing.

Other and further objects ofthe invention'Will be obvious upon an understanding"ofthe'illus-'k trative"embodimentl about to be' describedior will berindicatedn the appended claims, andlivarious advantages, not 'referred to. l'n'arein`r will occur to one-v skilledY inl th'e'-I arty upon employment of the, invention in. practice., Y

In accordance WithY the invention. the lfc'ire-A going fobjects are accompli'shed` by successively, sampling fluidWithd'rtnivn",` from4 a pluralityf o'f sources. andldirecting jthelsame to ra zone wherein.' the sanf'n'ales are tested' for. deteotingfsuspended" mattei therein and -passingeiean sirtnrugntne path through which samples have loeen directed ait( intervals between i; succ'iessi-ve,V samples., This. method may. be"` carried L out `manually or auto,L matically"by` suitalfilel apparatus; for.I efxar'ri'iiil,v such apparatus may, comprise Val pl1r`alityl, of meansifor supplyingv` san-iples` ofuidfin vvl'iieh' suspendedfmatter. is toibe detectecLlmeansfierk si'ipplying4 a ,prgingffof scavenging ,medium 4suoli as'clean air, m'eaislresponsive. tofthepre'se'riee of suspendedlma'tt'er' 'inth'e Asarmelefluid`V and"va1v`e means for eifecting ,connections of thelres'ponsive means `With` each of. the supplying. means suc` cessively, .prefabl'yg in su'chv sequence, ,vvl'i` e'relo`3`r after each connectionfofjtlie,sample supplying means,Y the purging iiid supplyin'gmean's. is connected'withfthe responsivemeans. n .l

relation tothe lvalveine'ans, that a indieationis given Whi'cl identiesthe space or source :frojrnV which a sample"isbein'gWithdrawn;` andthat such same or' similar "indication :is` give''while' purgingj rmedium' 'follows the path of the sampl'ei I'nthis mannen anysuspendedf matter irritlie sample is passed* through" the responsive means'v to "detect" the,` same before the "valve meansad indicating, means are positioned tosupply,` a' sample from another'.spae.` C/vc'irisequently;'whenl the responsive rrieaii's'` give out" anf alarmH `or preferably stop,thei-'operatinof-theindicatingineans, the indicatingrxmeansaarestill positionedrto identify f the fspacefin `Whichsuspendedv` mattery wasv Figure 2 is a sectional View taken along the line 2--2 on Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a schematic view illustrating the cooperation of the valve actuating means and the indicating means.

Referring to the drawings in detail and more particularly to Figures 1 and 2 thereof, there is shown apparatus which generally comprises a unit I responsive to suspended matter, a plurality of valves IIA, IIB, IIC and HD for connecting the unit I El with spaces (not shown) from which samples of fluid to be tested are Withdrawn by conduits IZA, I2B, I2C and i2D, respectively, a Valve I IS for connecting the unit I0 with a source of clean air or the like supplied by a conduit I2S, valve actuating means Iii, and indicator or annunciator I5, a shaft I6 for operating the valve actuating means and the indicator, and drive means including a motor l'I for effecting intermittent rotation of the shaft.

The suffixes A, B, C and D will be used to facilitate understanding that the reference numerals followed by these suffixes designate elements which are operatively associated with the respective spaces (which, while not shown, are identified as A, B, C and D), and, similarly, the sui'ix S will be used in connection with elements associated with the supply of scavenging fluid.

The unit Ill may be a smoke detecting device of any conventional design, for example, of the type disclosed in Letters Patent of the United States No. 2,032,746. Since such devices are Well known in the art, detailed description and illustration thereof are unnecessary.

In order to operatively associate the unit Iii, the valves, the valve actuating means I4 and the indicator, a generally rectangular casing or boxlike structure 20 is provided which comprises a rear wall 2 I, side walls 22 and 24, a top wall 25, a bottom wall 26 and a front opening. A cover 21, preferably formed of transparent material, is removably secured to the casing by screws or the like to close the front opening, and a gasket 20 is disposed between the cover and the surface of the casing defining the opening to provide a fluidtght seal.

The valves IIS, IIA, IIB, HC and IID are positioned in the casing in side by side relation and in lengthwise alignment, and preferably are provided in a valve block or housing 3i] formed integral with the casing or positioned therein to serve as a partition, which divides the interior of the casing into an upper Zone and a lower zone. The upper Zone is connected in fluid now communication with the unit IEB by an opening 3| in the side wall 2li and a tube 32 leading to the inlet of the unit I0, and the lower zone is similarly connected to the outlet of the unit i0 by an opening 34 in the rear wall 2i and a tube 35. An opening 36 is formed in the rear wall for connecting the lower zone to exhaust means, such as a suction fan (not shown) by a conduit 3l.

The valve IIS comprises an inlet port l0 in connection with the conduit I2S, an outlet port 4I surrounded by a seat l2 and in communication with the upper Zone, a valve member del for the seat, and a stem or rod 25S supporting the valve member which is slidably mounted in a vertical bore 45S extending through the valve block, a fixed sleeve lll and the bottom wall 25. The lower end of the stem iBS extends outwardly of the casing and has secured thereon a frusto-ccnical head 49S adapted to be engaged by the valve actuating means, as will be described hereinafter. The stem preferably is fitted in its '4 bore to reduce sliding friction therebetween to a minimum, so that the valve member is adapted to normally engage its seat and close the port under the influence of gravity.

The valves IiA, IIB, IEC and lID each comprise an inlet port 50 in connection with one of the conduits I2A, IZB, I2C and 2D, respectively, an outlet port 5I surrounded by a seat 52 and in communication with the upper zone, a second outlet port 54 surrounded by a seat 55 and in communication with the lower zone, a valve member 56 for the seat 52, a valve member 5l' for the seat 5E., and a stem or rod (135A, MB, 05C or 3533) supporting the valve members 5t and 5l in positions for alternately opening and closing the ports 5l and 5d, respectively. The stems each extend through the ports El and 54, a bore 59 in a fixed sleeve 50, and the bottom Wall. The lower ends of the stems extend outwardly of the casing and have secured thereon a frusto-conical head QSA, 49B, 49C or 49D, respectively, adapted to be engaged by the valve actua-ting means. The stems are fitted in their bores 59 to reduce sliding friction therebetween to a minimum, .so that the valve members 5G are normally on their seats 52 to close the ports 5I and the valve members E? are normally spaced from their seats E5 to open the ports 54 under the influence of gravity.

The shaft It is rotatably mounted in and extends through bearings 62 below the casing and adjacent the sides thereof. One end of the shaft is connected to the motor I'l for rotation at a relatively low speed, and the other end of the shaft carries the indicator I5. As shown in Figure 2, the shaft is positioned to the side of the valve stems.

The valve actuating means I4 are operatively associated with the shaft and comprise pins, cams or the like for raising the valve stems in a predetermined succession to connect the conduits IZA, IZB, I2C, I2D and I2S with the responsive means unit I0 in a desired sequence. As illu.,- trated herein, radially extending pins 65A, 65B, 65C and 65D are provided for engaging the heads ASA, 49B, 49C and 49D, respectively. These pins are evenly spaced circumferentially about the shaft at an angle of apart (Figure 3) and are positioned in relation to each other to successively effect operation of the valves IIA, IIB, IIC and I ID in the order named.

Four radially extending pins 65S are provided on the shaft for engaging the head 49S. Theses pins are evenly spaced circumferentially at an angle of 90 apart (Figure 3) with each pin being spaced 45 with respect to a pair of adjacent pins 65A, 65B, 65C or 65D, whereby the valve IIS will be operated at intervals between the operation of successive valves IIA, IIB, IIC or IID.

The indicator I5, as shown herein, is in the form of a wheel having indicia thereon for identifying the space from which fluid is being withdrawn or has just been withdrawn. In the illustrative embodiment, the wheel has eight stations which are evenly spaced circumferentially about the wheel at 45 apart and are identied by suitable indicia, such as the letters A, B, C and D, designating the four spaces associated with the elements so suiiixed. These letters are duplicated in succession so that the same space is identified twice at an indexing point such as a sight opening BB, once while its sampling valve is opened and once while the scavenging valve is opened. For example, the indicia may be arranged about the The apparatusis illustratdhrein with the valve actuating lmeans andthe"indicatorvwheelinlposition 8, lvviththe .valve HS-in lopen position.

In operation, with the zalmalatusinthe uconditionas shown the pins arepositioned*(Figure:3) sothat'the valve member llofejthedvalve' HS is on its seat A321` to cause rscavenging `or purging mediumto be directed'to ther detector unitllrandl be eventually withdrawn through the conduit-A 37 lthe valve members 56, of thelvalvesvr UA, rI IB,

IICY and HD are ontheir seatsuto closest-,heir ports ,51; and the valve members. 5l`- are ofi their` seats 55 tocause fluidvvithdrawn fromthe spaces to be exhausted through the conduit 3,1. AstheV shaft is1r-otatednot quite 45 ina,countelClocl,i-u wise direction (as. viewed), fthepin 55S releases the head MS, allowingV the valve] IS ft,0.,.close, and the pin 65A engagesthe head 49A ,torasethe stem 45A and operate .thevalve IIA, whereby its4 port 5l is open and its port54 is closed; A sample of the iiuid in which suspended matteris ,to bie,

detected is then directed .to-the unit .10. Inthe next operative position which follows, the, valve HS is again opened as just described,y and the valving continues in the sequencehereinbefore described, with the cycle beingcontinuously repeated.

If, forexample, lasalnple;Witl'xdraivn from the space connected with conduit I42D should containl suspended matter, the f suspended matter may be,

detected instantly Iby theresponsivefmeans `unit, iB while the firstletter llof-` thedndiciafis visible through the sightcpeningf, However, itfthe unit It does not respond instantly'because -thesus-` pended matterhas not yet reachedthej.unt, the, opening of the valve I IS,-whichimmediatelyfollows, causes scavenging medium-to be directed,

through the path through Whchtheudconf taining suspended matterhas passed, w-ll.elfi-105%` any suspended matter in nthesamnle. will pass through the unit and will befdetected :before the next sample is taken from'ianother yspace;V `An indication of suspendedpmatter will beigivenatiak time while the second letter. Dis still. visible through the sight opening, whereby-the origin of "the suspended matter can be .accurately `determined by either `an instantaneous:responsezor a delayed response.

When suspended matter isfdetected; rotationgof:

the shaft it is stopped, whereby thenindiciasonthe Wheel designates the space from which the sample Was taken, an alarm may be sounded to attract the attention oan attendant, and lsvvitch means maybeoperatedto actuateother mechanism or devices, for example, an indicator or annunciator at a remote location, a fire extinguishingsystem or. the like. `Sincesuch means-,which may be associated withthezunitel, theimotor and/or the` shaftl are., generally known, illus.- tration and: detailed description". thereof 1 are belevedlto 4be unnecessary;y

While; the present'` invention vhas beenldescribed with referencefto smoke detection, it Will Abe understood that the apparatus may be readily adapted for other uses. The responsive means 1 unit maybe a gas ,analyzer for detecting the lack oior a surplusof certain gasessuspendedin air,

whereby `conditions may be detected to indicate'` the presence of explosive mixtures, poisonous gases, or the presence otgases in insuicient quantities. It will also be apparent that the purging or'scavenging medium need not bean',

but couldv be anyother gas which is suitable forI the particular purpose of the apparatus.

Itwill'be further appreciated'that, While the.

embodiment, herein illustrates four sampling valves andlone scavenging valve,v any number of, such valves may ce utilized. depending upon the number ofsspaces tobe supervised, and thatzthe:

valving sequence may be modied to fuliill the requirements of other conditions.

ablein cases Where a large number of spaces are sampled, to facilitate arrangement of the valveactuating means.

From the foregoing description, it will be seen that the present invention provides an improved' method of and apparatus for detecting suspended:

l. In apparatus-for detecting suspended matter in fluids, the combination of a casing providing a chamber, a valve block in said chamber partitioning the same into rst and second chamber sections; exhaust means including an opening in iiuidflow communicating with said second chainber section; means responsive tothe presence of suspended matter in iiuid having an inlet in fluid iiow communication with said first chamber section and having an outlet in fluid flow comnunication with said exhaust means opening through said second chamber section; a plurality of means for supplying sample fluid in which suspended matter is to be detected; a plurality of sample fluid now controlling valves each including an inlet in fluid now communication with one ofvsaid sample fluid supplying means respectively, a rst outlet in iuid flow communication with the inlet-of said responsive means through said' first chamber section, a second outlet in fluid flow communication with said exhaustmeans openingy through said second chamber section, a-valve member normally closing said first outlet, a-valve member normally unolosing said second outlet, and means for operating said valve members -to effect unclcsing of said iirst outlet and simultaneousclosing of said second-outlet; means forv supplying purging uid; a purging iiuid flow controlling valve including an inlet iniiuid ilovvr communication With said purging iiuid supplying means, an outlet in fluid flow communication with the inlet of said responsive means through'said rst chamber section, a valvey memberinormallyclosing said lastmentioned outlet, and means for operating said laetimentioned For example, more than one scavenging valve'may be desirvalve member to unclose said last mentioned outlet; and mechanism for controlling all of said valve member operating means to effect selective and successive unclosing of said rst outlet of said sample fluid ilow controlling valves and to effect unclosing of said outlet of said purging fluid flow controlling Valve after each unclosing of one of said first outlets of said sample fluid flow controlling valves.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1, including annunciater means operated by said mechanism having means for respectively indicating the unclosing oi said iirst outlet of said sample fluid flow controlling valves and having means for giving a similar indicating upon unclosing of said outlet or said purging uid iiow controlling valve after a given unclosing of one of said first outlets of said sample iiuid flow controlling valves.

3. A unit for detecting suspended matter in uids, comprising a casing providing a chamber; a valve block in said chamber partitioning the same into an upper and a lower chamber section, said valve block having an inlet for introducing a purging fluid from the exterior of said casing, an outlet for establishing fluid flow communication between said inlet and said upper chamber section including an upwardly facing valve port, a plurality of inlets for introducing sample iluid from the exterior of said casing in which suspended matter is to be detected, an upper outlet for each of said sample uid inlets for establishing iiuid flow communication therebetween and said upper chamber section including an upwardly facing valve seat, and a lower outlet opposite said upper outlet for each of said sample fluid inlets for establishing fluid flow communication therebetween and said lower chamber section including a downwardly facing Valve seat, said casing having an opening providing exhaust outlet means for said lower chamber section; means responsive to the presence of suspended matter in fluid having an inlet in fluid flow communicatien with said upper chamber section and having an outlet in uid flow communication with said lower chamber section; a valve member above said Valve port arranged for normally closing the same; a rod connected to said valve member extending downwardly through said valve block and exteriorly of the lower end of said casing; a set of valve members for each pair of opposed upper and lower outlets each set including an upper valve member for said upwardly facing valve seat and a lower valve member for said downwardly facing valve seat of each pair; a stem connected to each set of said upper and lower valve members extending downwardly through said valve block and exteriorly of the lower end of said casing, each said set of valve members being arranged to normally close its said upper outlet and unclose its said lower outlet controlled thereby simultaneously with its stem in lowermost position and being operable to unclose said upper outlet and close said lower outlet simultaneously when its stem is in uppermost position, said rod and said stems being aligned in a substantially Vertical plane; and mechanisi i for eifecting movement of said valve members including a rotatable shaft beneath said casing having means thereon for raising said stems selectively and successively from their lowermost to their uppermost positions and having means thereton to raise said rod from its lowermost to its uppermost position each time after one of said stems has returned from its uppermost position.

A4.' Apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said first mentioned Valve member and its rod and said sets of upper and lower valve members and their stems are constructed and arranged to assume their lowermost positions under the iniiuence of gravity.

5. Apparatus according to claim 3, wherein an indicator wheel is mounted on said shaft and index means are provided adjacent said Wheel, said Vwheel having indicia thereon in duplicate cooperating with said index means for respectively indicating the successive unclosing of said plurality of upper outlets and for giving the same indication upon an immediately following unclosing of said port.

6. Apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the front wall of said casing is transparent.

7. In apparatus for detecting suspended matter in uids, the combination of means responsive to the presence of suspended matter having an inlet and an outlet; exhaust means, a plurality of means for supplying sample fluid in which suspended matter is to be detected; a plurality of sample fluid ow controlling valves each including an inlet, means connecting said inlet in uid flow communication with one of said sample iiuid supplying means respectively, a rst outlet, a second outlet, Valve means normally closing said rst outlet, valve means normally unclosing said second outlet, and means for operating said valve means to effect unclosing of said iirst outlet and simultaneous closing of said second outlet; means for supplying purging fluid; a purging fluid flow controlling valve including an inlet, means connecting said inlet in fluid flow communication with said purging fluid supplying means, an outlet, valve means normally closing said last mentioned outlet and means for operating said last mentioned valve means to unclose said last mentioned outlet; means connecting said first outlet of said sample fluid controlling valves and said outlet of said purging fluid flow controlling valve in iiuid flow communication with said inlet of said responsive means; means connecting said second outlet of said sample fluid controlling valves and said outlet of said responsive means in fluid iow communication with said exhaust means; and mechanism for controlling all of said Valve means operating means to eiect selective and successive unclosing of said first outlet of said sample fluid controlling Valves and to effect unclosing of said outlet of said purging fluid ow controlling valve after each unclosing of one of said first outlets of said sample fluid flow controlling valves.

8. Apparatus according to claim 7, including annunciator means operated by said mechanism having means for respectively indicating the unclosing of said rst outlet of said sample uid ow controlling Valves and having means for giving a similar indication upon unclosing of said outlet of said purging iluid ilow controlling valve after a given unclosing of one of said iirst outlets of said sample fluid Iiow controlling valves.

ARTHUR W. UI-IL.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,809,325 Austin et al June 9, 1931 2,118,836 Carter May 31, 1938 2,219,391 Jacobsen Oct. 29, 1940 2,426,779 MacDonald Sept. 2, 1947 2,484,202 Wintermute Oct. 11, 1949 

